The National Executive Council of the Prison Officers’ Association today unanimously voted to ballot for industrial action. This vote today relates directly to intolerable breaches of longstanding agreements that the Irish Prison Service has failed to implement – and have had a negative impact on the safety of our membership and our conditions of employment.

Jim Mitchell, Deputy General Secretary, said “We are bitterly disappointed at the lack of progress on issues that have been the subject of agreement at both the Haddington Road and Croke Park national pay deals. These agreements have continually been breached by prison management, leaving our members much more vulnerable in frequently hostile surroundings. At all stages the Prison Officers Association has honoured commitments under national pay deals and this has resulted in agreement on significant institutional reform – as well as substantial ongoing financial savings to the state.

It is particularly regrettable that this platform of institutional reform, achieved by Prison Officers under the most adverse of conditions during the austerity period, is now being squandered by Prison management. As economic circumstances improve an opportunity now emerges to build on these accomplishments for the benefit of all.”
Mitchell said “We will now put this ballot before our members, for consideration, with a recommendation for acceptance.”